Job Description

In Vivo Research Associate

Do you want your in vivo work to help bring better treatments to people living with obesity and metabolic disease? As an In Vivo Research Associate in the Translational Pharmacology group at Zealand Pharma’s brand new research site in Cambridge, MA, you will run rodent studies and metabolic phenotyping that help decide which molecules move toward the clinic. If you want your experiments to matter to patients, we’d like to hear from you.

Your new position

As In Vivo Research Associate, you will be a hands-on contributor to preclinical studies that help advance Zealand Pharma’s drug candidates. The position covers the full study workflow, from preparing formulations and dosing animals to collecting and analyzing samples and documenting results. You will work closely with senior team members, gain broad exposure to in vivo pharmacology, and see your data feed into project team decisions. Flexibility to support dosing and sample collection on weekends and holidays, as studies require, is part of the role.

We offer exciting responsibilities:

• Perform compound administration (SC, IP, IV, PO), body weight and food/water intake measurements, and clinical observations in mice and rats
• Perform metabolic phenotyping, such as glucose and insulin tolerance tests, body composition analysis, and indirect calorimetry
• Collect non-terminal blood samples and tissues on timed schedules for PK and PD studies, and conduct terminal procedures, including necropsy
• Coordinate study logistics, including dosing schedules and sample collection plans
• Support study setup, including animal randomization, baseline measurements, and blinding where applicable
• Prepare compound formulations, dosing solutions, reagents, and buffers for in vivo studies
• Process and analyze samples using standard laboratory techniques such as ELISA, plasma and tissue processing, and biochemical assays
• Record data and maintain sample inventories accurately in the electronic lab notebook, and analyze and summarize study data in GraphPad Prism and Excel with guidance from senior team members
• Present study results to the Translational Pharmacology group and project teams, and contribute to study reports
• Monitor animal health, apply humane endpoints, and report concerns promptly, and conduct all work in compliance with IACUC, animal welfare, and biosafety requirements

Your profile

You are a careful, organized, and dependable team player who takes pride in accurate, well-documented work. You are comfortable handling multiple timelines and adapting when study needs change. You are curious, eager to learn from experienced colleagues, and committed to high standards of animal welfare.

• BS/BA in biology, pharmacology, or a related field, and 1-2 years of hands-on in vivo experience in an academic or industry setting
• Proficiency with core rodent techniques, including handling, dosing (SC, IP, IV, PO), and blood collection
• Experience with standard laboratory techniques (e.g., ELISA, sample processing) and with preparing solutions or compound formulations
• Working knowledge of IACUC requirements and good documentation practices
• Proficiency with GraphPad Prism and Excel; experience with Benchling is a plus
• Experience with metabolic phenotyping or stereotaxic surgery is a plus but not required

Your new team

You will join the Translational Pharmacology group within the Global Biology research organization, based at Zealand’s brand new research site in Cambridge, MA and focused on advancing new medicines for obesity and metabolic disease. The team collaborates closely with Chemistry, DMPK/Safety, Translational Medicine, and project teams across the US and Denmark, contributing to a portfolio of programs through robust in vivo data generation and interpretation.

Let’s bond and be bold

We have a unique culture, characterized by excellent teamwork and strong engagement across the organization. And we want you to help us strengthen this culture.

Making bonds is at the core of everything we do. From discovering and developing the best new peptide drugs for patients, to engaging with our partners or connecting with each other. We bond through curiosity and playfulness as a team, allowing ourselves to challenge common thinking and drive future innovation. Join us and let’s bond and be bold.

Interested in bonding with us? Please apply as soon as possible. The applications will be reviewed as they come in. While a cover letter is not required, please include a few sentences in your CV explaining your motivation for applying.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from all job applicants.

About Zealand Pharma A/S

Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) is a biotechnology company focused on advancing medicines for obesity and metabolic health. Combining more than 25 years of peptide R&D expertise with a proprietary data platform that leverages advanced data-driven and AI/ML approaches, Zealand Pharma aims to lead a new era in obesity and metabolic health. To date, more than ten Zealand Pharma-invented drug candidates have entered clinical development, of which two products have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The Company has collaborations with global pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners for research, development, and commercialization. Founded in 1998, Zealand Pharma is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a U.S. presence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Learn more at www.zealandpharma.com.